Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith dies at 89
- Smith left behind two sons and five grandchildren.
- She recently appeared in “Downton Abbey” and reprised her role in the sequel.
- Smith married twice, first to actor Robert Stephens and then to Beverley Cross.
Dame Maggie Smith, famed for her role in “Harry Potter”, passed away at the age of 89 on Friday, September 27. Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, announced the sad news to her fans and well-wishers, stating that Smith left this world peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She leaves behind two sons and five grandchildren.
In the statement by Larkin and Stephens, the sons of the veteran actress mentioned, “She passed away peacefully in the hospital early this morning, Friday, 27th September.” It further read, “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”
The statement also claimed, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days. We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
The actress enjoyed one of the most successful careers in Hollywood by portraying iconic characters such as Jean Brodie in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, Muriel Donnelly in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, and Mrs. Castle in “Evil Under the Sun”. Smith gained fame through the mid-1960s, winning the hearts of audiences with her performances in both films and stage plays.
The actress’s most iconic role was that of Professor McGonagall in the popular “Harry Potter” franchise. Specifically, the Oscar-winning actress portrayed the character from 2001 to 2007 in the films adapted from J.K. Rowling’s work.
Furthermore, most recently, Smith appeared in “Downton Abbey” in 2019 and, in addition, she reprised her role as Violet Crawley in the sequel released in 2022. Ultimately, “Downton Abbey: A New Era” marked her final film in Hollywood.
In her personal life, Dame Maggie Smith married twice. She first married actor Robert Stephens, with whom she had a son. Later, she married Beverley Cross, who passed away in 1998.
